Parks & Recreation

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Botetourt County Wraps Up Fire Prevention Week

11/3/2014

Fincastle, VA — The Botetourt County Department of Fire and EMS in partnership with the Troutville, Read Mountain, Fincastle, and Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Departments commemorated a successful Fire Prevention Week this past month. The goal of the week each year is to promote the importance of fire prevention and safety, especially the need to have working smoke detectors and fire safety plans in place in every home. This week also allows the County’s career staff and volunteers to provide valuable outreach and education opportunities throughout the community.

With a great spirit of collaboration, the Departments worked together and visited more than ten preschools, elementary schools, and home school groups in Botetourt County. Over 600 children and parents were taught about fire safety, such as having an escape plan with two exits out of every room and what to do in case of a fire emergency. The Departments also gave away smoke detectors and batteries in an effort to increase smoke detector usage in County homes.

“During the fall season with the weather growing colder, it is especially important that we reach out and educate families about many types of fire safety,” said Ron Kovar, the County’s Fire Prevention Officer. “During National Fire Prevention Week, we wanted to make it a priority to reach out to as many of the youth as we could. Fire prevention week provides the public with information on how to be fire safe throughout the year”.

In addition to education and outreach about fire prevention and safety, the week is also a time for the community to learn more about the lives and dedication of firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

“While fire prevention and safety is our first priority, we want to make sure our men and women are visible in the community and are encouraging citizens, especially children, to be engaged with their fire departments and rescue squads,” said Jeff Beckner, Chief of Fire and EMS. “We know the next generation of volunteers is sitting in the room for our presentations and standing by our trucks at events.”

The career and volunteer departments plan to continue their efforts to educate the public on a variety of fire safety issues every month. Please check http://botetourtfireems.org/for more information. If you have a group and are interested in having a Department member come to present fire safety information or if you have any questions about fire safety information available, please contact Ron Kovar at (540) 266-2933.